Colsec Rebellion

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up In this final novel in the ColSec trilogy ( Exiles of ColSec 1984, The Caves of Klydor 1985, both Atheneum), a band of teenagers exiled to space by Earth's despotic government returns to their home planet to help start a rebellion against that organization's stranglehold on the space colonies. Five quirky and fairly distinct characters land secretly to recruit a rebel army from the teenage gangs on Earth, whose members have become skilled guerilla fighters. Smooth exposition and brief flashbacks put the mission in the context of the complete trilogy and allow the story to stand entirely on its own. The shift in focus from the savage planet Klydor back to Earth provides a less interesting locale, without the hideous monsters that gave such a punch to the first two books. However, short chapters and simple, clear prose combine with lots of action and uncomplicated characterizations to keep the story moving rapidly and vividly. This is not cerebral or high-concept science fiction, just good entertainment. It should move off the shelves, particularly in libraries where readers have enjoyed the first two installments. Fans of Ben Bova and Andre Norton should like it. The ending suggests that other adventures may follow for the same characters. Lyle Blake Smythers, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.